Possibilities and realities of return migration

PREMIG is a large-scale research project that explores return migration from Norway and the United Kingdom. The project is premised on the idea that the possibility of return - not just actual return - is an important phenomenon. Many immigrants in Europe are considering returning to their country of origin. In most cases, return is a future option rather than a short-term plan. The possibility of return can nevertheless be important in its own right: experiences of marginalization can stimulate plans for return. Furthermore, the prospect of return might lessen commitment to integration. The possibility of return can also be central to migrants’ transnational relationships with people in their country of origin.

Return migration has many faces: for some migrants it isa dream that they hope to realize. Others live in fear of beingreturned against their will. PREMIG takes a broad approachand aims to cover the diverse aspects of return migration.